Weekend Sports Recap

-The disappointing season for the UW football team continued Saturday, losing badly at Iowa, 38-16. I may have been too optimistic in an earlier post when I said that I believed the team still had a good shot at reaching a bowl game this year. Should the team make Scott Tolzien the new starting quarterback? I think the Badgers are heading to a quarterback by committee approach, where whoever is playing well will get to lead the offense. The only real bright spot this season has been running back John Clay, who ran 16 times Saturday for 89 yards. For the season, Clay has 394 yards rushing on only 65 carries, which is an average of 6 yards per carry. He may be the starting tailback now if PJ Hill is sidelined with yet another injury.

-The Green Bay Packers improved to 4-3 this year with an impressive 34-14 victory over the Colts at Lambeau. The two things I took away from the game: 1) what a performance from the defense, which shut down the Colts' passing attack and provided two touchdowns off of interception returns; and 2) how great was it to watch a discouraged, dejected, depressed, aggravated, flummoxed, and angry Peyton Manning? I can't remember seeing Manning look so defeated before, and it was a nice added touch to the victory. What a strong way for GB to head into the bye week (Speaking of strong, Ryan Grant looks 100% now, and that is great news for the Packers - 31 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD).

-The other big Packers-related news item from the weekend was the latest chapter in the Brett Favre soap opera. If the allegations are true, that Favre has provided other teams with information about the Packers, it will be a devastating blow to his legacy. Charles Woodson, who is one of GB's leaders now, had probably the best response:

"He contacted them?" cornerback Charles Woodson said with raised eyebrows. "I don't respect that. If they called him and he gives them information, that's one thing. But to seek a team out, because, you know, I guess you're trying to sabotage this team, you know I don't respect that. I know he's been the greatest player around here for a long time but there's no honor in that."

-It was a busy weekend for the Brewers too. Doug Melvin's contract was extended. Dale Sveum was interviewed and told "we'll get back to you." The Brewers got back to him and said adios. And now the search is on for an "experienced manager that has a reputation for winning." There is apparently a handful of candidates that have sought out Melvin for the position. If it were up to me, I would choose either Buck Showalter or Bob Brenly. Both have demonstrated a good knowledge of the game, and both have prior accomplishments in their careers.

-The World Series is now set and it's not pretty: Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay. Here is why I'm cheering for the Phillies: 1) if they win, then Brewers fans can say at least our team got knocked out by the eventual World Series champions (this would ideally be directed at cubs fans), 2) Tampa Bay really annoys me - from those stupid mohawks to the lame song they play after wins to shots of Dick Vitale cheering obnoxiously from the stands to Grant Balfour's ridiculous mannerisms on the mound, and so on and so forth, 3) if the Phillies win, we won't have to listen to stupid Philadelphia sports fans cry about their city not winning a championship since 1980, and 4) The DEVIL Rays have only been around as a franchise for 10 years! - there are a number of teams that deserve to win a World Series title before some team that can't even sell out home playoff games.

-The UW men's basketball team got to work for the upcoming season. The Badgers, defending Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, play their first exhibition game November 1. The Final Four this season will be in Detroit - see the rest of you Badger fans there!